32 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Bruce Dinnington Bruce is embracing robotic technology Karen Phelps Southland dairy farmer Bruce Dinnington is questioning why more New Zealand farmers aren’t embracing robotic technology after experiencing a huge increase in production on his own farm going from 560 kilograms of milk solids per cow to 750 kilograms. “Robotic milking creates a stress free environment for the cows. They can come and go to the shed as they like. They are very relaxed and contented. They are milking around 2.4 milkings per day on average - some are three times a day and some twice a day,” says Bruce. “Robotics helps with the big milking cows, and it takes the pressure off them being able to milk three times each day, so they milk 60-70 litres per day.” Bruce has a Lely Calm automatic calf feeder, Lely Discovery 120 Collector (a state-of-the-art manure management system), Astronaut robotic milking system and Juno automatic feed pusher. He says his production-based feeding system ensures each cow receives precisely what it needs. “The robots feed grain, soy and molasses in the shed. All that is production based so the big milking cows get the feed they need to keep the production going and the poorer milking cows get the smaller amounts of feed they need. With the old rotary shed all cows got the same feed regardless,” says Bruce. It’s not only resulted in higher production but more importantly increased profitability: “The system requires no staff. Cows have collars around their neck, which is the cow’s identifier so the robot knows who she is, how much grain she’s supposed to get etc. The farm is split into four blocks and every six hours the automatic gates change to a fresh block. So the cows are keen to be milked and come into the shed by themselves to get the grain and molasses etc. The afterwards they are keen to get to the next block of grass. So because they walk in and out at their own pace they don’t get the same leg and foot issues either.” Bruce’s job is largely monitoring the system, putting up the fences ahead of the cows in the paddock. “Break size becomes key in a system like this. If you over feed them the cows they don’t come home and if you underfeed them they come home early. So feeding has to be more precise. Most paddocks are broken down into four to six feeds per paddock.” Importantly Bruce enjoys unprecedented flexibility: “The wash goes through the robots at 9.30am in the morning. So I just have to be there to change the filter sock and can get to the shed any time I like before 9.30am. Then I don’t have to be back to change it sometime before 1.30am the next morning,” he explains. “So I have all day to do whatever I want and that’s one of the huge benefits. Bruce remains baffled by the slow adoption rate of robotics in New Zealand. I can be off or on farm and have a lot more free time. I can set the system up to have whatever time off I want.” Based in Dacre, Bruce is the third-generation to farm this land and milks a herd of 350 Friesian cows. He says most farmers battle stress in the herd, mastitis and fertility and robotics is the solution to all three eliminating lame cows, dropping somatic cell counts and increasing fertility. Bruce remains baffled by the slow adoption rate of robotics in New Zealand. “It’s a completely different mindset and Kiwis haven’t got their head around it. Cost wise there is not a huge difference between buying a top line rotary or herringbone. People who put in robotics get a 10-15% production increase in the first year alone and can reduce staff. I know of one New Zealand farmer who achieved a 50% production Proud to support Bruce Dinnington Contact the team at Rogers 84 Leet street, Invercargill 032189584 www.rogersyamaha.co.nz 60+ no bull, real world pricing. the smart farm choi ce. (03) 236-6077 or (027) 411-2805 53 Great North Road, Winton • Turn key packages for complete design & build of shed • Hot-dip galvanised structural steel • Chain effluent scrapers • Full concrete placement • Full range of latex and rubber bedding • Stall dividers • Cow brushes Suppliers of: • Kitset Fabricated Structural Steel • Ready to bolt Together • Hot Dip Galvanised Finish • Meets all NZ Standards “Cow barn design and building specialists with 31,000 cows comfortably housed” increase within three years after switching from once-daily milking to up to three times a day with robotics. With robotics gaining momentum in Australia and already well established in Europe and America I believe New Zealand farmers at the moment are missing a significant opportunity.”
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